MobUI Acquires Action Engine, Raises Funds

MobUI, a Redmond, WA, developer of mobile applications, announced it has acquired mobile application platform firm Action Engine of Bellevue, WA, and raised an undisclosed amount of new funds. MobUI says the new financing—led by South American wireless application service provider GlobalNET Mobile Solutions—will help the firm develop applications for the iPhone, mobile Web, and … Continue reading “MobUI Acquires Action Engine, Raises Funds”

Charles River Funds Webaroo

Charles River Ventures of Waltham, MA, is one of the lead participants in an $11 million Series A funding round for Mumbai, India-based Webaroo, according to several reports this week. The mobile software company sells SMS-based systems for group messaging. Charles River was joined in the round by Helion Venture Partners.

Synta Gets $25M From Glaxo For Cancer Drug Milestone

Synta Pharmaceuticals, a Lexington, MA-based cancer drug developer, said today it has earned $25 million from its partner, GlaxoSmithKline, for reaching milestones in development of elesclomol. The drug is currently in the final stage of testing for metastatic melanoma, in a trial called Symmetry. Synta (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SNTA]]) is eligible to receive another $25 million in … Continue reading “Synta Gets $25M From Glaxo For Cancer Drug Milestone”

Brightcove Makes Web Video Publishing Easier, Cheaper

Brightcove, the Cambridge, MA-based Internet video publisher founded in 2004 by Boston-area serial entrepreneur Jeremy Allaire, today introduced a thoroughly overhauled version of its video hosting platform. The company says the new service, called Brightcove 3, is designed to help big media companies get more creative about the way they deploy video on their websites, … Continue reading “Brightcove Makes Web Video Publishing Easier, Cheaper”

Turbine Powers Up West Coast Office

Westwood, MA-based video game developer Turbine announced Monday that it will open a new studio in Redwood City, CA. The company, best known for creating the massively multiplayer online game The Lord of the Rings Online, said opening a Bay Area office would allow it to tap into the large pool of game development talent … Continue reading “Turbine Powers Up West Coast Office”

Sequoia Raises $10M in Sixth VC Round

Sequoia Communications, a San Diego-based maker of fabless RF transceivers, has reeled in $10.1 million in a sixth round of venture capital financing, PE Hub reports. Citing regulatory filings, PE Hub says the semiconductor company’s only listed shareholders were previous investors BlueRun Ventures and Tallwood Venture Capital. Since 2000, PE Hub reports, Sequoia had previously … Continue reading “Sequoia Raises $10M in Sixth VC Round”

New Pfizer Incubator Chief Looks Far and Wide for New Science, But Backs Off Plans for Boston Site

Mark Benedyk follows a broad charter for The Pfizer Incubator (TPI): to find and nurture the best science in the world to feed the R&D machine for its parent company, global drug giant Pfizer (NYSE:[[ticker:PFE]]). Benedyk, a biotech industry veteran, took the reins of TPI in January, and he has plans to expand the reach … Continue reading “New Pfizer Incubator Chief Looks Far and Wide for New Science, But Backs Off Plans for Boston Site”

Concert Pharmaceuticals, Flush With Well-Timed Venture Round, Aims for Hot Flashes, HIV

Concert Pharmaceuticals caught my eye a few weeks back with something unusual—an experimental drug for the hot flashes women get during menopause, without the risks of standard hormone-replacement therapy. I didn’t have a chance to interview CEO Roger Tung last month when his Lexington, MA-based company took this drug into its first clinical trial, so … Continue reading “Concert Pharmaceuticals, Flush With Well-Timed Venture Round, Aims for Hot Flashes, HIV”

Five Seattle-Area Companies, and an Apprentice, Join WTIA’s Mobile Mission to China

‘Tis the season for grand tours of Asia. Last week, we covered life on the road with Intellectual Ventures, as the Bellevue, WA-based invention firm launched offices in five Asian countries, including China. This week, it’s the Washington Technology Industry Association’s turn. Together with the Washington State Community, Trade and Economic Development office, the WTIA … Continue reading “Five Seattle-Area Companies, and an Apprentice, Join WTIA’s Mobile Mission to China”

Johns Hopkins’ President Moving to Salk Institute

The Salk Institute yesterday named Dr. William R. Brody, outgoing president of Johns Hopkins University, as its new president. Brody, 64, is retiring from Johns Hopkins in December and will assume his new job in La Jolla on March 1. As a successful entrepreneur who co-founded three biotechnology companies, Brody is expected to provide his business … Continue reading “Johns Hopkins’ President Moving to Salk Institute”

CMC Icos Sees Expanding Markets for Biotech Drugs With New Factory

CMC Icos Biologics made news a couple weeks ago when it said it plans to expand its biotech drug factory in Bothell, and double its workforce there to about 250 employees in three to four years. The big question in my mind was why, so I tracked down CMC Icos president Gustavo Mahler to ask. … Continue reading “CMC Icos Sees Expanding Markets for Biotech Drugs With New Factory”

Fallbrook Follows Qualcomm’s Patent Strategy With Innovative Transmission For Vehicles

Bill Klehm may not be aware of his wordplay when he says, “We’re seeing significant traction in the European bicycle market and in light electric vehicles.” Klehm, 45, is the chief executive of San Diego’s Fallbrook Technologies, a startup that has been developing an innovative transmission without gears. The company says its “NuVinci” technology is … Continue reading “Fallbrook Follows Qualcomm’s Patent Strategy With Innovative Transmission For Vehicles”

How to Build a Successful Innovation Ecosystem: Educate, Network, and Celebrate

Last week, I was honored to give a keynote speech in Dublin, Ireland, at an international symposium marking the launch of the nation’s ambitious new R&D program in energy by its NSF equivalent, the Science Foundation of Ireland (SFI). The Symposium on Science and Engineering Underpinning Sustainable Energies and Energy-Efficiency was an excellent opportunity to … Continue reading “How to Build a Successful Innovation Ecosystem: Educate, Network, and Celebrate”

Takeda Hands $20M Over to Alnylam, Skyhook Helps Mozilla Find its Way, Nuance Nabs Nokia Agreement, & More Boston-Area Deals News

For those of you who had a long weekend like we did, welcome back. And to refresh your memory about last week’s Boston-area tech and life sciences deals… —Polaris Venture Partners of Waltham, MA, helped aim a $20 million Series B financing at San Mateo, CA-based internet video advertising firm BlackArrow. Cisco Systems, Comcast Interactive … Continue reading “Takeda Hands $20M Over to Alnylam, Skyhook Helps Mozilla Find its Way, Nuance Nabs Nokia Agreement, & More Boston-Area Deals News”

Mintera Corporation Secures $8,000,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=731165d0-ee36-48a9-8e0f-3012e6f2665f&Preview=1 Date 10/14/2008 Company Name Mintera Corporation Mailing Address 35 Nagog Park Acton, MA 01720 Company Description Mintera was founded in 2000 to be the technology leader enabling next generation 40 Gbps optical transport in metro-core, regional, long- haul and ultra long-haul optical networks. Website http://www.mintera.com Transaction Type Debt Transaction Amount $8,000,000 … Continue reading “Mintera Corporation Secures $8,000,000 New Funding Round”

Billshrink Obtains $8,000,000 Series B Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=27fd5d6c-47ba-4b93-92b8-7cc0d862a2e7&Preview=1 Date 10/14/2008 Company Name Billshrink Mailing Address 601 Marshall Street Redwood City, CA 94063 Company Description At BillShrink, our vision is to save you time and money through highly-personalized analysis of your particular usage. Not only will Billshrink find the best cell phone plan for you today, but we can automatically … Continue reading “Billshrink Obtains $8,000,000 Series B Funding Round”

Booyah Secures $4,500,000 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=4874d182-7789-473c-97f1-b7a914c863dc&Preview=1 Date 10/14/2008 Company Name Booyah Mailing Address 170 A University Avenue Second Floor Palo Alto, CA 94301 Company Description Booyah has developed an online GPS game that allows users to check in at real world locations to unlock rewards. Website http://www.booyah.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $4,500,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed … Continue reading “Booyah Secures $4,500,000 New Funding”

MaxCyte Acquires Mobilygen Corp. for Undisclosed Sum

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=686bd360-5286-41f7-9bbb-271e9265b9d1&Preview=1 Date 10/14/2008 Company Name Mobilygen Corp. Mailing Address 2900 Lakeside Drive Santa Clara, CA 95054 Company Description Mobilygen is a privately held fabless semiconductor company. The Mobilygen team is focused on creating energy-efficient Multimedia Processors that enable a superior visual experience and fuel the growth of the mobile video market. Our … Continue reading “MaxCyte Acquires Mobilygen Corp. for Undisclosed Sum”

Omniture Acquires Mercado for $6,500,000

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=00bd803c-7a82-4ee5-89bb-f55f3a4606e4&Preview=1 Date 10/14/2008 Company Name Mercado Mailing Address 6210 Stoneridge Mall Rd Pleasanton, CA 94588 Company Description For nearly a decade, Mercado has been providing innovative and effective e-commerce Search & Navigation and Advanced Merchandising solutions to leading U.S. retailers. No one better understands the challenges of online and cross-selling better than … Continue reading “Omniture Acquires Mercado for $6,500,000”

MobUI Receives New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=419e5ce0-9580-4721-b42e-30bd2c3771bd&Preview=1 Date 10/13/2008 Company Name MobUI Mailing Address 7508 164th Ave NE Redmond, WA 98052 Company Description Are you ready? To be wowed. We founded MobUI to help brands, like you, mobilize fast. We built a team of mobile development experts who are renowned for the quality of their work and the … Continue reading “MobUI Receives New Financing”

MobUI Acquires Action Engine Corp. for Undisclosed Sum

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=dceb5c53-08bf-4a7b-9c37-1c18e185ede1&Preview=1 Date 10/13/2008 Company Name Action Engine Corp. Mailing Address 2331 130th Ave NE Bellevue, WA 98005 Company Description Action Engine Corporation is the mobile application platform leader. Action Engine was founded in 2000 with a vision that current approaches for delivering wireless data to mobile devices were incomplete. Website http://www.actionengine.com Transaction … Continue reading “MobUI Acquires Action Engine Corp. for Undisclosed Sum”

Webaroo Obtains $11,000,000 Series A Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=d8ea9b6e-1ebb-472f-bd87-355cd52d5944&Preview=1 Date 10/13/2008 Company Name Webaroo Mailing Address 19925 Stevens Creek Blvd #176 Cupertino, CA 95014-2358 Company Description Webaroo was founded in June 2004 with the vision of developing innovative mobile solutions for the consumer market. Over the last three years, Webaroo has developed several market leading products. Some have already achieved … Continue reading “Webaroo Obtains $11,000,000 Series A Round”

SiOnyx Brings “Black Silicon” into the Light; Material Could Upend Solar, Imaging Industries

Silicon is a wonderfully cooperative element. It takes relatively little energy to promote the electrons in a silicon crystal from their usual, docile orbits around the atomic nuclei into wild, free circulation. That’s what makes silicon a semiconductor—valuable for electronic switching devices such as transistors, sensing devices such as the CCDs in cameras and X-ray … Continue reading “SiOnyx Brings “Black Silicon” into the Light; Material Could Upend Solar, Imaging Industries”

SpaceDev Founder Jim Benson Dies

Jim Benson, an impatient visionary and aerospace entrepreneur, died today of a brain tumor, according to a statement issued by SpaceDev, the San Diego-based company he founded. SpaceDev developed the hybrid rocket engine used to power SpaceShipOne, the Burt Rutan-designed spacecraft, in its historic 2004 suborbital flight, which won the $10 million Ansari X-Prize. Benson, who was 63, … Continue reading “SpaceDev Founder Jim Benson Dies”

Nventa Pharmaceuticals Cuts Deep, Looks For Lifeline

San Diego-based Nventa Pharmaceuticals Corp., a public biotech that trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange, says it is cutting costs to conserve cash, refocusing on its best drug candidates and searching for “synergistic merger and acquisition opportunities.” The startup has been developing new drugs to treat viral infections and cancer. Nvena said it is laying … Continue reading “Nventa Pharmaceuticals Cuts Deep, Looks For Lifeline”

Renewable Energy Finance Forum-West

Renewable Energy Finance Forum-West, a national conference addressing regional renewable energy issues, will be held in Seattle on October 27-28 at the Grand Hyatt. REFF-West will be an event for financiers, investors and renewable energy project developers to network. Industry leaders from around the country will present on venture capital, financing in a credit-constrained economy, … Continue reading “Renewable Energy Finance Forum-West”

Vinod Khosla Keynote–Algal Biomass Summit

Vinod Khosla, the prominent venture investor in cleantech, will be the keynote speaker at the 2008 Algae Biomass Summit, taking place Oct. 22-24 at the Bell Harbor Conference Center, Pier 66 in Seattle. The event is organized by the non-profit Algal Biomass Organization (ABO) and is designed to highlight scientific advances and encourage knowledge sharing … Continue reading “Vinod Khosla Keynote–Algal Biomass Summit”

Scripps Health Teams Up With Microsoft and Others for Genetic Testing Study

It was almost exactly a year ago that Microsoft launched its HealthVault service, a secure online database for users to store and manage their medical records. And in recent months, we’ve reported on the software giant’s increasing efforts in health care, including its new partnerships with prescription drug provider CVS Caremark and Boston, MA-based health … Continue reading “Scripps Health Teams Up With Microsoft and Others for Genetic Testing Study”

BSX CEO Buys 350K Shares

Boston Scientific CEO James Tobin exercised $2.1 million worth of options on shares of the Natick, MA-based medical device firm yesterday as an “an expression of confidence in the company,” according to a report in the Boston Business Journal. The CEO’s purchase of 350,000 shares of Boston Scientific (NYTS:[[ticker:BSX]]) stock at $6.13 per share followed … Continue reading “BSX CEO Buys 350K Shares”

Playful vs. Preachy: Sizing Up TV’s New Science Dramas

Crime shows generally turn me off, but for years I’ve enjoyed CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, because (as I’ve written before) the heroes are scientists. They catch crooks not by outgunning them, but by observing, hypothesizing, and testing. Of course, the dramatic license that CSI and other series sometimes take with real-world science can be disturbing: … Continue reading “Playful vs. Preachy: Sizing Up TV’s New Science Dramas”

Invitrogen Sees Improved Synergies in Acquisition

Carlsbad-based Invitrogen Corp. says it expects to save $20 million more than originally thought when it acquires Applied Biosystems Inc., according to San Diego’s North County Times. In a filing with government regulators, Invitrogen says a more detailed integration plan shows the combined companies will save $80 million and drive higher-than-expected growth in earnings per share. … Continue reading “Invitrogen Sees Improved Synergies in Acquisition”

UW, Microsoft Research Aim to Turn Northwest Into a Neural Engineering Hotspot

The minute I walked into an auditorium at Microsoft Research in Redmond last night, I knew this was going to be a fun event. In foot-high letters, someone wrote on a white board, “FOOD BEHIND THIS WALL. EAT.” It turns out that that someone, who clearly had an innate sense for how to get people … Continue reading “UW, Microsoft Research Aim to Turn Northwest Into a Neural Engineering Hotspot”

MIT’s Langer, Renowned for Inventing Solutions to Medical Problems, Strives to Do the Same for Hurricanes

When renowned MIT professor (and Xconomist) Bob Langer spoke last month at our Xconomy Forum on building life sciences companies—a task at which he has been exceedingly successful—we weren’t expecting him to mention that he has struggled for some eight years to raise money to study “hurricane mitigation.” It turns out that Langer—a chemical engineer … Continue reading “MIT’s Langer, Renowned for Inventing Solutions to Medical Problems, Strives to Do the Same for Hurricanes”

Leroy Hood, Turning 70, Still Aims to Accomplish “The Most Ambitious Things of My Career”

It’s hard to believe Leroy Hood—a guy busy enough to employ not one, but two full-time executive assistants—is turning 70 today. But it’s true. This milestone seemed to be as good a reason as any to catch up with the biotechnology pioneer. So I stopped by his office at the Institute for Systems Biology (ISB) … Continue reading “Leroy Hood, Turning 70, Still Aims to Accomplish “The Most Ambitious Things of My Career””

Cypress Bioscience, Developer of Fibromyalgia Drug, Eagerly Awaits FDA Deadline

Cypress Bioscience is one of those biotech companies that has limped along for more than 20 years, losing loads of money. In the lovely language of chief operating officer Sabrina Johnson, it has gone through “several reincarnations.” The company now expects to find out by the end of this month whether its latest incarnation will … Continue reading “Cypress Bioscience, Developer of Fibromyalgia Drug, Eagerly Awaits FDA Deadline”

Challenging Microsoft, Startup AutoVirt Fixes Windows Data Migration Nightmares

If you’ve ever had to replace your home computer, you know what a hassle it can be to copy your most important software and data from the old computer’s hard drive to the new one. The IT-industry term for this process is “data migration”—and it’s even more of a headache for system administrators at big … Continue reading “Challenging Microsoft, Startup AutoVirt Fixes Windows Data Migration Nightmares”

OnMeta, Inc. Lands $2,000,000 Series A Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=fb93ea69-dcb6-496d-ae5f-53d28175a8df&Preview=1 Date 10/10/2008 Company Name OnMeta, Inc. Mailing Address 1223 Wilshire Blvd Santa Monica, CA 90403 Company Description The company operates a search engine focused on entertainment. Website http://www.onmeta.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $2,000,000 Transaction Round Series A Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. M&A Terms Venture Investor Undisclosed

Sequoia Communications Inc. Garners $10,100,000 Series F Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=8db11b55-c791-49e5-b484-06ee41ecf2ef&Preview=1 Date 10/10/2008 Company Name Sequoia Communications Inc. Mailing Address 15050 Avenue of Science San Diego, CA 92128 Company Description Sequoia Communications is a fabless RF semiconductor company setting new benchmarks in multi-mode design and integration. Website http://www.sequoiacommunications.com/ Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $10,100,000 Transaction Round Series F Proceeds Purposes Proceeds … Continue reading “Sequoia Communications Inc. Garners $10,100,000 Series F Funding Round”

Kirkland North Obtains $225,000 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=d323cf0f-4d52-48e7-94a4-6257f116cd98&Preview=1 Date 10/10/2008 Company Name Kirkland North Mailing Address 1445 Oak Street San Francisco, CA 94117 Company Description The first game of Turf was played at Yale University in January through March, 2007. Called Old Campus Tree Risk at the time, it was a strategy game and would-be art piece, where the … Continue reading “Kirkland North Obtains $225,000 New Financing Round”

Fitbit Obtains $2,000,000 New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=3b416a21-0078-45eb-909a-9cb98be0bed7&Preview=1 Date 10/10/2008 Company Name Fitbit Mailing Address 870 Market Street San Francisco, CA 94000 Company Description Fitbit is devoted to helping people of any fitness level achieve health and wellness. Fitbit provides a complete wellness solution focused on behavior change via awareness and motivation. Website http://www.fitbit.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction … Continue reading “Fitbit Obtains $2,000,000 New Round”

Twofish Secures $4,500,000 Series B Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b37ca835-5de3-451c-8c49-ef149999592c&Preview=1 Date 10/10/2008 Company Name Twofish Mailing Address 580 College Ave. 2nd Floor Palo Alto, CA 94306 Company Description Twofish was founded in 2006 by Lee Crawford, a veteran of both the gaming and financial software markets. Lee foresaw the need to collapse his two areas of expertise and set out to … Continue reading “Twofish Secures $4,500,000 Series B Financing”

Sprint’s WiMax Network Operative in Boston, Mobile Computing Site Confirms

On Monday I blogged about a report that the XOHM WiMax network, Sprint Nextel’s venture into broadband wireless service, is up and running in Boston and several other cities, even though the company has officially launched the service only in Baltimore. Today, the source of that report, Robert Wray of in-car-computing site MP3Car.com, wrote to … Continue reading “Sprint’s WiMax Network Operative in Boston, Mobile Computing Site Confirms”

WTIA Launches Survey on Impact of Financial Crisis

It’s what everyone is talking about: the global financial crisis, and its impact on business and markets. But more specifically, what is its impact on local-area tech businesses and innovation, and how will people respond to it? Here at Xconomy, we’ve posed those important questions to some of our distinguished network of Xconomists—leaders in technology, … Continue reading “WTIA Launches Survey on Impact of Financial Crisis”

Institute for Systems Biology, UW Researchers Win Bulk of $68M Grants To Study Flu, SARS

Seattle researchers snapped up the lion’s share of a massive round of grants announced today by the National Institutes of Health. The Institute for Systems Biology, the University of Washington, and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, WA—along with a group at Stanford University—have been awarded five-year grants totaling $68.7 million to study dangerous … Continue reading “Institute for Systems Biology, UW Researchers Win Bulk of $68M Grants To Study Flu, SARS”

Mentor Graphics Acquires Flomerics

Wilsonville, OR-based Mentor Graphics, which does electronics design and analysis, announced it has acquired the Flomerics Group, a U.K.-based maker of fluid-dynamics simulation software. Flomerics will become the mechanical analysis division within Mentor (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MENT]]).